The second of two protests against the award of a contract for the resurfacing of UH Mānoa‘s Clarence T.C. Ching Athletic Complex (formerly known as Cooke Field) was dismissed today by the State Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs — clearing the way for the project to begin.

DCCA hearings officer Sheryl Nagata rejected arguments by Ching's Nursery, which was the 4th lowest bidder. She approved the UH‘s request to dismiss Ching's protest, following a hearing on the matter last Thursday.

The other firm contesting the bid award was CO-HA Builders, Inc. which withdrew its protest last week.

"I‘m tremendously pleased that legal obstacles are now removed and that we begin work on the project," said UH Mānoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw.

The contract of $862,381 was awarded by UH on August 13th to the lowest-bidder, RMY Construction, Inc., to install a new synthetic playing surface. Following the award, however, protests were received from the second-lowest bidder, CO-HA Builders, Inc., dba Applied Surface Technology and the fourth-lowest bidder, Ching‘s Nursery, Inc. dba Service Contracting.

The Legislature this session appropriated $1.2 million for the turf replacement project and the Ching Foundation is providing $5 million for the athletic complex.